National Conference update

At the Volunteer Workshop on the 1st of September Andrea Grindrod, Palliative Care Health Promotion Officer at La Trobe University, spoke about her involvement in the Strengthening Palliative Care in Victoria through Health Promotion Project and the unique ways in which volunteers had contributed to health promotion in Palliative Care through school engagement, awareness raising and video production.

Rachel McCarthy spoke about her work with the Mary Potter Hospice (see separate posting on this website) and Alex Huntir PCNSW spoke about the work of the Volunteer Support Services Program in NSW.

Anna Taylor from Eastern Palliative Care spoke about managing relationships between clients and volunteers in the palliative care environment, and the importance of reflective practice and asking challenging questions designed to re-assert the boundaries of volunteering.

The Volunteer workshop preceded the 13th National Palliative Care Conference in Melbourne which attracted some 800 delegates and speakers from around the world.